Conrad Murray may lose Nevada medical license

May 27, 2010 12:00:00 AM PDT

SANTA CLARA COUNTY --

Michael Jackson's personal physician could lose his right to practice medicine in Nevada thanks to a Northern California court ruling.A Santa Clara County judge on Thursday denied Dr. Conrad Murray's request for a court order relieving him of an obligation to pay about $16,000 in back child support to the mother of his 12-year-old son.

A prosecutor in Las Vegas had said Nevada would stop efforts to revoke Murray's license for failure to pay the support if Murray got the Santa Clara court order approving the deal. Gerard Costantin, a deputy Clark County district attorney, says Murray could face suspension of his Nevada medical license as early as August depending on the hearing master's recommendation and possible appeals.

Murray's spokesman, Miranda Sevcik, says that losing his medical license would jeopardize his legal defense. Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. He has pleaded not guilty.

Murray is due back in court for a hearing June 25 before a Clark County Family Court hearing officer in Las Vegas where he lives. It's on the same day as the one year anniversary of Jackson's death.